u-blox : GPS module offers 1s acquisition time

u-blox AG, the leading Swiss provider of GPS chips, modules and services, has announced the launch of two GPS modules that set new benchmarks in terms of speed, sensitivity and ease of integration. The LEA-5 GPS module series is based on u-blox' fifth generation positioning engine, u-blox 5, which boasts an acquisition performance of less than one second.

These versatile, stand-alone GPS receivers combine an extensive array of features with flexible connectivity options. Their ease of integration results in fast times-to-market for a wide range of automotive, consumer and industrial applications with strict size and cost requirements.

"The LEA-5 GPS module series brings the high performance of the u-blox 5 positioning engine to the industry standard LEA form factor", said Karsten Tietz, u-blox Vice President Sales EMEA. This new generation is backwards compatible and ensures our customers an easy migration from LEA-4 module designs, with even better performance and improved cost-efficiency."

u-blox 5 offers an ultra-fast acquisition time thanks to its 50-channel GPS architecture with over 1 million correlators and separate acquisition and tracking engines, capable of massively parallel searches. Combined with u-blox' AssistNow A-GPS service, the u-blox 5 chip and module generation acquires satellites in less than one second.

"These LEA-5 modules are ultra fast and boast an impressive -160 dBm acquisition and tracking sensitivity. These features, added to the module's small size and low cost make them ideally suited for use in mass market GPS-enabled consumer devices," said u-blox Chief Executive, Thomas Seiler. "This breakthrough technology is yet another endorsement of the strength of u-blox' research and development team."

The LEA-5 GPS module series is lead free and has an industrial temperature range of -40 to 85°C. Its small form factor and SMT pads allow for fully automatic assembly processes with standard pick-and-place equipment and reflow soldering, enabling cost-efficient, high-volume production.

u-blox is an international company headquartered in Switzerland, with sales organizations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Founded in 1997, u-blox develops leading positioning technology, products and services based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including GPS and Galileo, for the automotive and mobile communications markets. For more information, please visit www.u-blox.com.

Note: The above text is the public part of the press release obtained from the manufacturer (with minor modifications). EETimes Europe cannot be held responsible for the claims and statements made by the manufacturer. The text is intended as a supplement to the new product presentations in EETimes Europe magazine.